“Had we known that that was imminent … I would never have been able to leave under those circumstances. When I look back now, I would have stayed there to do what we needed to do to resolve the problem.”

That’s certainly an interesting what-if? when it comes to the Seahawks and what has happened since.

Would Seattle have fired Jim Mora anyway and looked for someone else if Carroll weren’t available? Mike Shanahan was hired by the Redskins in 2010, to name one other big name that was on the market. Leslie Frazier, though, was the only other name ever really associated with the job, as rumors of Carroll’s involvement broke almost immediately.

The LA Times stories are some of the strongest statements Carroll has made that he didn’t come to Seattle to escape the NCAA. But it’s worth noting it’s what he has always said — that he wasn’t looking to leave but simply found the Seattle offer too good to pass up.

Hard to imagine, though, that he has any real regrets even if he says he would have stayed had he known what was coming. Seattle unquestionably doesn’t have any, either.